Ep. 115 - Understanding Musicality in Ballet and How to Develop it, with Chelsea Weidmann Artwork

After Class: The Adult Ballet Podcast

If you've ever cried in the car after ballet class, questioned whether you started too late, or wondered why your pirouettes still aren't cooperating, this is your podcast. After Class is for adult ballet dancers — the ones balancing real life, careers, and ballet dreams. Each week, host and fellow dancer Hannah covers technique, artistry, mindset, and the honest conversations that don't always happen in the studio. Whether you're brand new to the barre or a seasoned bunhead, you belong here.

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After Class: The Adult Ballet Podcast

Ep. 115 - Understanding Musicality in Ballet and How to Develop it, with Chelsea Weidmann

May 27, 2026 • The Busy Bunhead • Season 1 • Episode 115

0:00 | 34:10

Musicality is one of those qualities teachers ask for constantly, and yet almost never explain. "Be more musical. Feel the music. Let it move through you..." But what does that actually mean?

In this episode, I'm back with Chelsea Weidmann, The Geeky Ballerina, as part of our ongoing series unpacking the elements of artistry she identified in her thesis on Artistry in Ballet. Today's topic: musicality — one of the most personal and most debated elements of all.

In this episode we talk about whether musicality is something you're born with or something you can learn, why so many dancers can hear the music but struggle to translate it into their body (and why that's ok!) and Chelsea's clarifying framework for musicality (including elements like rhythm, tempo, dynamics, and more!)

If you've ever been told to be more musical but had no idea where to start, this episode will give you a framework, a language, and some practical tools to actually get there. 🎶

CONNECT WITH CHELSEA 👇🏼
Website: www.geekyballerina.com
Book: Artistry Inside Ballet Technique, Vol 1 (Amazon affiliate link)

EPISODE SPONSOR ✨
ORZA - Ballet Slippers
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CATCH UP ON OUR ELEMENTS OF ARTISTRY SERIES BELOW:

ELEMENT #1 BREATH

ELEMENT #2 SOMATIC AWARENESS

ELEMENT #3 LINE

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Podcast produced by Mission Bridge Media.
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